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"As a swimmer, you just have to accept that you're swimming in
pee," said Carly Geehr, a former member of the U.S. national swim
team.

Answering the question on the Q&A website
Quora, Geehr said "nearly 100 percent" of elite competitive
swimmers regularly do it, mostly because they can't help
it. "Adrenaline and nerves wreak havoc on your system, she
said, "and I knew tons of other swimmers that always, regardless
of prior planning, had to pee right before a race."

Turns out, most swimmers are too tense and distracted to attend
to their bladders during an actual race. Instead, they get the
job done during warm-up, or utilize a crucial interval just
before the race begins: "[It's] not uncommon to splash yourself
before you climb up on the blocks," she explained, "so that extra
liquid on yourself and the pool deck affords you an interesting
opportunity. (I'll let you finish the rest of that thought.)"

In case you wanted specifics, the otherwise-studly
Ryan Lochte is an unabashed pool-peer.

When asked whether he engages in the activity on an Aug. 3
radio interview, the 11-time Olympic medalist said, "Of
course. I think there's just something about getting into
chlorine water that you just automatically go. [I didn't] during
the races, but I sure did in warm-up."